song obsession friday! (for the week ending April 17)
Song obsessions are those songs that we listen to on repeat. I noticed that my obsessions are often a week long. I also thought that other people might have similar obsessions. I’ve collected a panel of a few like-minded individuals and gotten their “song obsessions of the week.” Quite often it’s easy to explain why the song is good; it’s much hard to explain why we’re obsessed. Maybe you’ll become obsessed with one of these.
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Adrian (me):
J Tillman – When I Light Your Darkened Door (mp3) (buy)
Damien Jurado – When I Light Your Darkened Door (Live in Portland) (mp3)
I was listening to the songs on Tillman’s myspace earlier this week and heard this song. I’d heard this song before and I’d heard the Damien Jurado cover, but something about it this time struck me anew.
Repetitive, dark and tinnily-recorded, it just burrowed into my head. How was I not blow away by this song before?
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Keith:
Lee Fields – Do You Love Me (Like You Say You Do) (mp3) (buy)
Friends who know of my 60’s/70’s soul jones often recommend new artists who they claim “sound just like” those golden throats of old. Only problem? Most of them don’t. Raphael Saadiq – I’m talking about you here. He’s the kind of artist that I just can’t stand – one that casually swipes from the genre while inserting newer vocal or production flourishes to make it more commercially palatable. Luckily we still have Lee Fields – a man of R&B integrity. His stuff actually sounds like it could have originated from a dank Memphis storefront circa 1967 – no posing necessary.
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Oz:
Strand of Oaks – End In Flames (mp3) (buy)
Like a cross between Mark Kozalek (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon) and Jason Molina (Songs: Ohia, Magnolia Electric Co.), Strand of Oaks (Timothy Showalter) perfects downcast folk-americana. Written after losing his house and all possessions in a fire, this autobiographical album is hard to tear away from. This is just one track, but I’m obsessed with the complete body of work.
So what would it take for me to get one of my obsessions posted on here? You haven’t been very -how should I say it- encouraging in your responses to previous queries of mine. But take a listen to Iron & Wine – Belated Promise Ring. I can send it to you if you want.
Ariana, I think it was just the one time previously and I didn’t mean to be discouraging, but the only way I post a song obsession is if I’m obsessed with the song and I can’t really control that.
I just listened to “Belated Promise Ring” a couple times. Thanks for pointing it out. It’s really good. We’ll see if it burrows into my brain or not.
That Damien Jurado cover is gorgeous. Thank you